Shoppers enter and exit Hudson's Bay at the Medicine Hat Mall on Thursday afternoon. Allowed capacity, set by health orders, will be reduced from 25 to 15 per cent of fire code this weekend in an attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Local business owner Rob Andreas is giving fellow retailers the same three points of advice he’s provided to the staff of his pet store and anyone else he talks to in the community.
“It’s not great, but it could be worse, and it will get better,” the owner of Animal World told the News on Thursday as steeper restrictions on capacity limits and calls to remain home as much as possible come down this weekend, just two weeks before Christmas and during the busiest shopping period of the year.
Like many business owners, Andreas launched a delivery service in late March when businesses closed completely as COVID-19 set in.
Now, he’s still operating reduced store hours to accommodate fewer customers, but heading out each night for a round of deliveries from phoned-in orders.
That stabilizes his sales, but also retains his customer base as much as possible.
He felt many other entrepreneurs are doing the same.
“Every night, I turn off the lights, load up the truck and do deliveries all night,” he said. “(Business conditions) are going to get worse before they get better. But they will get better.”
Starting Sunday, capacity at all retailers, including large outlets and the Medicine Hat Mall, will be further reduced to 15 per cent of fire capacity, down from 25 per cent limit instituted in late November.
Restaurants can operate takeout or delivery only, while bars and some personal services, such as barbers and hairstylists, must close, and others move to appointment only.
That’s after many “non-essential” businesses closed completely to the general public for much of the spring.
Hampered sales at Christmas will compound the challenges business owners already face during a hard year, said Marcus Campbell, president of the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce.
“Lost revenue is the big concern, and it’s everybody in business – retailers, hairdressers, hospitality – they make most of their hay when the sun shines,” he said.
“We’re also challenging local businesses to do their Christmas shopping locally. Figure out a way to buy one or two or a few of your gifts from a local business and not (from big online retailers).
“We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (for the health emergency). Let’s make the best of it at Christmas.”
The chamber, the city and business development groups launched the “Shop YXH” complete with an online shopping website for local retailers to promote their goods and use as a way to bring online shoppers to store sites.
Retail groups and economists predict that trends to online purchasing would grow this year as more people stayed home to isolate as much as possible, or bargain hunt as the economy struggles.
That effect coincides as retailers with storefronts, with rents, staff and other overhead costs, are hampered to bring customers through the doors.
The feeling is that unemployment and reduced hours will now extend or worsen if retail locations fail to stay afloat now or recover quickly in 2021.
Ben Roscoe, owner of Gravity Sports on South Railway Street, said his trade remains strong, likely due to increased demand for outdoor activity gear and burgeoning interest he sees in his customers to keep their shopping dollars as local as possible.
“We’ve definitely heard that, and that’s a movement that’s real,” he said.
